As part of an ongoing effort to better understand todays’ business-for-sale market, BizBuySell.com recently commissioned a demographic study of individuals engaged in buying or selling a small business. The study, which surveyed more than 2,000 buyers and sellers, highlighted several trends that are shaping today’s market.

Female business buyers reported a range of motivations for their interest in business ownership, but the primary motivation appears to be a desire to be their own boss, with 55 percent of women listing it as their main reason for buying, compared to 48 percent of men.

The opportunity to earn higher income and a better lifestyle were the second- and third-most popular responses for both men and women. Men were more likely to pursue business ownership due to their dislike of a current job (15 percent), while 10 percent of women reported their current position as a motivating factor in their desire to become a small business owner.

Men want out to buy bigger businesses, while women just want out

Retirement remains the single-most-cited reason for selling a business (39 percent of men, 40 percent of women), but 16 percent (second-most) of men list “Desire to own a bigger business” as their reason for selling vs. 6 percent of women.